The Beatles were the greatest band ever. Ever. Period. End of discussion.

[Taverner]

As much as you can say "Elvis" and "The Stones" I can say "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" and be done with the argument. And that's just ONE song!

I could also say "Elenor Rigby," "While my Guitar Gently Weeps," "The End" or "Tomorrow Never Knows" and I would still win.

[onehandle]

1. It's All Too Much - George Harrison

It's different every time you listen to it.

[Taverner]

2. YES!

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_iQk-Ord3bcg/S2PxAhAmlbI/AAAAAAAAAtQ/30SIXCnrCjQ/s400/yes+yellow+submarine.jpg

[onehandle]

5. Yes... He was heavily influenced by LSD as he wrote it.

Sail me on a silver sun, for I know that I'm free
Show me that I'm everywhere, and get me home for tea

[Hoyt]

3. If one is objective, you are probably correct. But the American "Beatles" - the Byrds -

were my favorites. But Beatles were a very close second, with folks like Bob Dylan right behind. Just a good time for music.

[onehandle]

4. I would agree that The Byrds were the American Beatles. And not the Beach Boys...

...as some would argue.

[Hoyt]

7. They shaped my musical preferences - REM, Petty, Eagles, folk music, etc.

But Beach Boys were good too. I like all that stuff from 60s, and today's music influenced by that period. I like new artists doing their thing too.

[Taverner]

12. I love both the Byrds and the Beach Boys

But for me, the Beach Boys were only good from Pet Sounds on...

That despair would decimate a million goths...

And Dennis' solo album - Pacific Ocean Blue - pure angst, despair, love and beauty

[Gravitycollapse]

6. If we're talking historically, I vote Pink Floyd. If we're talking contemporary, it's Radiohead.

Although I would say The Beatles are second historically behind PF.

[olddots]

8. Okay if you say so

what about the Osmonds ?

[Brother Buzz]

9. The Beatles produced some of the best music ever....

As a performing band, they were extremely average.

[Chan790]

10. Wrong! Twisted Sister was the greatest band ever. Ever. Period. End of discussion.

[lastlib]

20. * SNORT! *

* snort * twice for emphasis.....

[Chan790]

23. It was absurdist humor.

Obviously, I don't think the greatest band in history could be anybody but Tenacious D. They'll even tell you so.

[lastlib]

25. ok, call me pwned!

I bad!

[TreasonousBastard]

11. Well, maybe, but some of us remember Duke Ellington...

"Ever" covers a long time.

[sigmasix]

13. yep

they invented the notion that pop band should write their own material and play the instruments and sing on their records. They went from pop band to dylan-inspired fusion to psychedelic band to hard rock in a matter of less than 10 years- with each LP out-selling the last and singles that seemed to be permantly in the charts. Three wonderful voices for harmony is unusual in most bands as is a willingness to alter musical direction. The Beatles layed the templet for great rock bands- they have achieved mythic importance in the evolution of popular music, film, art and fashion. Their talents were obvious and an entire generation grew up with the beatles serving the soundtrack of their youths as well as offering a safe examination of moral inequities in our society. They were so much more than a rock band.

[nirvana555]

14. Without Question! "A Day in the LIfe" is a masterpiece. It's hard to imagine any other

group of musicians topping them.

[JitterbugPerfume]

15. With all things considered,

I agree.

[Morning Dew]

16. Love The Beatles, but if I was restricted to only one band for the rest of my life -

I'd go with The Grateful Dead.

[nomorenomore08]

33. Not a bad choice, if you had to make that choice. If only for the sheer volume (as in amount)

and variety of music there.

[Yavin4]

17. I was in Vegas recently and saw the Cirque du Soleil's LOVE

It blew me away. It was truly fantastic. Go see it if you love the Beatles.

[jmowreader]

18. The Who was the greatest band ever

The Beatles produced a ton of elevator music.

And the most boring, overrated song they ever did was Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds.

[lastlib]

19. Yup. Period. End.

Sgt. Pepper
A Day In The Life
Let it Be
Hey Jude
Long And Winding Road

[dr.strangelove]

21. Please, me and my kids banging on pots are better than those fools

I would barely put the Beatles in the top 1,000,000 musical groups of all times. My son has an original we call, "Clang, Bop, Clang" that makes those lame songs you quoted look like they were written by a 3 year old banging on a pot.

[LWolf]

22. I can't argue with that.

I like plenty of others, too, but...

[Wait Wut]

24. No.

You're mistaken.

[KamaAina]

26. Wrong. It's Oasis.

Don't believe me? Just ask them.

[nolabear]

27. Certainly the most influential in modern music.

I think the greatest too though I know many others who are as brilliant. Pink Floyd is my personal fave, and The Dead, but I love many and widely varied!

[PD Turk]

28. well, duh

[walkerbait41]

29. Beatles have our vote

'Hay Jude'

[AsahinaKimi]

30. if we are talking about THE TOP ten bands of all time....

I would vote for Brian May, Freddy Mercury, John Deacon and Rodger Taylor..

[tavernier]

31. Benny Goodman

Beatles
Queen

What would Tchaikovsky's band be called?

I have varied tastes.

[Tom Ripley]

44. His trio with Teddy Wilson and Gene Krupa is certainly a contender

[Archae]

32. Were.

Nowadays?

[Taverner]

35. Rob/White Zombie is awesome, no doubt

But so are many other great bands/artists

The Clash

Velvet Underground

The Rolling Stones

Grizzly Bear

The Beach Boys

Roxy Music

David Bowie

Crystal Method

Prodigy

Dead Kennedys

Beck

etc, etc


BUT THERE IS NO ONE WHO CAN TOP THE BEATLES!!!!!

[nomorenomore08]

34. I can't refute your arguments. They really were the greatest band/artist in all modern pop music.

'68-'72 Stones and '65-'66 Dylan, though, come very close to that level for me.

[Taverner]

36. Oh definitely

we are talking fractions of fractions of a percent

As for relevance, well that's topical

[nomorenomore08]

37. My all-time list: Beatles, Stones, Dylan, Smiths, Clash, Ramones, Husker Du, R.E.M.,

Jesus and Mary Chain, Stone Roses, Doors, Replacements, Leonard Cohen, Gun Club, Dinosaur Jr, Jeff Buckley, Mazzy Star...

That's just off the top of my head though. I'm probably forgetting a couple.

[Taverner]

38. Radiohead, VU, Patti Smith, Warren Zevon, Grizzly Bear, Jellyfish/Roger Manning, Black Keys

The Beach Boys, The The, Todd Rundgren, Talking Heads, Tame Impala, The Byrds, Lovin Spoonful, Blue Oyster Cult, Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath....

[nomorenomore08]

39. Not a damn thing wrong with any of those choices. And I can't believe I left out the VU!

Sabbath, Zeppelin, Talking Heads - these bands are "overplayed" for a reason...

[olddots]

40. Was not Was

although never really a band was an amazing band.

[Tom Ripley]

41. They may not be my favorite band, but they were undeniably the greatest band ever

[Boomerproud]

42. Yes.Period.End of discussion.

n/t

[Tom Ripley]

43. Favorites? Velvets, Byrds, Stooges, Television, Gun Club, John Coltrane Quartet, Roxy Music...

Cannon's Jug Stompers, Rolling Stones, Badfinger, Charlie Pickett and the Eggs, Public Image Ltd, Echo and the Bunnymen, Hawkwind, Neu!, Spacemen 3.